Rohit Sharma Leads the Pack: India’s Test Squad for England Tour Takes Shape
India Prepares for England Showdown
India is gearing up to face England in a five-match Test series starting June 20th. This series kicks off the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, and India aims for a strong start after missing the final this time around.
According to a report by The Times of India, the selectors have narrowed down a list of 35 players for both the India and India ‘A’ teams. This list is expected to be officially released by the end of May.
Rohit Sharma Remains Captain Despite Recent Slumps
The report confirms that Rohit Sharma will captain the team, even though his recent performances haven’t been stellar. He struggled in the home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, as well as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. However, the BCCI believes India needs a strong leader like Rohit for this challenging tour.
“Rohit is most likely to travel as the board feels that one needs a strong captain through the series, which is likely to be as tough as the Australia tour,” a BCCI source told the publication.
Middle-Order Woes: Sarfaraz Khan Out, New Faces in the Mix
The selectors are still searching for a reliable middle-order batsman to fill the void at number 5 or 6. Sarfaraz Khan, despite his impressive domestic form, seems to be out of the running.
The report suggests that Karun Nair and Rajat Patidar are the frontrunners for this crucial role. Both have been in excellent form in domestic cricket. They are almost certain to be included in the India ‘A’ squad.
“With regard to the middle-order, the team management has shown very little confidence in Sarfaraz Khan’s ability. Nair and Patidar are seasoned red-ball players and are in fine form. It is likely at least one of them will be in the India ‘A’ team,” the source added.
